On the expansive menu at Marui Sushi in Corona, the pictures only tell part of the story.

The accompanying photos show off the beautiful colors of the artistic fish, but they donât do justice to the sizable portions and the punch of flavor in each roll or the friendly service.

My husband and I stopped by Marui on a recent weeknight for an early dinner.

Even with the pictures, the dozens of rolls were overwhelming so we started with two intriguing ones â" the Albacore Garlic Roll ($7.95) and the Spicy Tuna Tempura Roll ($9.95).

My confidence was boosted about the decision when our friendly server noted that the Albacore Garlic Roll was his personal favorite.

We were served small side salads as we waited for the rolls. Along the back wall where we were sitting, there were photos of hundreds of happy customers.

Two other walls each featured a slick flat-screen TV, tuned into ESPN, one behind the sizable sushi bar and one near the entrance.

The sports highlights werenât distracting as the food arrived quickly. The albacore garlic roll included albacore, cucumbers and a delicious garlic ponzu sauce drizzled atop the roll with a sprinkling of scallions and sesame seeds.

There was more ponzu on the plate and it had the garlic flavor and complemented the fish without being overpowering.

The Spicy Tuna Tempura roll featured 10 pieces of a spicy tuna and avocado tempura-fried and topped with a spicy house sauce and served on a bed of mixed field greens. Normally Iâm not a fan of tempura rolls, but this one was a treat.

The rolls each had a delicate crunch without ruining the flavor and the homemade sauce found another use as a salad dressing for the greens.

Impressed by our initial order, we werenât sure where to go next. Luckily, our server suggested something different â" the Yami Crunch ($7.95), an appetizer with spicy tuna mixed with the house special sauce, chopped tomato and fresh mango served atop deep fried wonton-like chips.

The blend of textures, the crunch of the chip combined with the velvety softness of the mango and the tuna made it a new standard for the next time we return.

Another server who was working recommended the Baked Salmon roll ($10.95), which included spicy yellowtail inside a California roll and topped with baked salmon, which was also tasty.

In addition to the sushi, Mauri offers a number of hot entrees as well, including Chicken Teriyaki ($8.95) and Pork Cutlet ($9.95), served with rice, miso soup and salad. At lunch, served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, the entrees are a couple of dollars cheaper.

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